How to use an SMB share on your NAS with Jellyfin on Windows

[nexxai]

This thread is basically just a summary of what I posted on my blog (https://nexxai.dev/how-to-use-an-smb-sha...n-windows/), but to recap:

If you have your Jellyfin server set up on a Windows device, it is possible to mount your NAS's SMB share in such a way that Jellyfin sees it without needing to mess around with NFS.

1. Make sure the Jellyfin service is running as an actual user, and not the SYSTEM account. You can verify (and change, if necessary) by opening the Services MMC (Start -> Run -> services.msc). Preferably, set it to use the same user account you actually login to your computer with. This will make it easier for the following steps.

2. Ensure that on your NAS, there is a user account created there (and this is crucial) with the exact same username and password as your PC. They must match character-for-character. So if your username on your PC is bobjones and your password is Q!W@e3r4T%Y^U&I* the account on your NAS should be bobjones and Q!W@e3r4T%Y^U&I* too.

3. Open a PowerShell prompt as an adminstrator

4. Decide on the local physical drive and folder name you’d like to mount the network folder to, and then have the network path to the folder ready. In this example, I’ll use C:\NAS for the local location, and \\NAS-01\Files, but remember that the local location can be any folder you want, as long as it does _NOT_ currently exist; this process will create the mounted folder and will fail if you try to mount the network folder to a folder that already exists.

5. In PowerShell, enter the following command: 
    New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path C:\NAS\ -Target \\NAS-01\Files

6. Open the Jellyfin console and confirm that you can now see C:\NAS (or whatever you decided to call your mountpoint)

[ordelliptical]

Great tutorial! This step-by-step guide is incredibly helpful for Windows users looking to seamlessly integrate their Jellyfin server with a NAS's SMB share without delving into NFS configurations. Your instructions are clear and well-organized, making it easy for users to follow along.

[bathtub_gin]

What is the advantage of this?

[TheDreadPirate]

What is the advantage of this?

A lot of users don't have dedicated computers with a case that can accommodate a lot of hard drives.  Most people are using small form factor (SFF) PCs or laptops to run Jellyfin on.  And a NAS from, for example, Synology allows them to have a butt load of storage but still have the more capable SFF PC or laptop act as the frontend to server up the interface, videos, and perform transcoding.

[bathtub_gin]

Currently I access my NAS via jellyfin reading a mapped drive on the htpc it resides on. Would there be a benefit to accessing the NAS directly instead of via mapped drive?
Edit- I think this may be a different way if doing the same thing. My NAS share folder is mapped as a drive on my windows pc and jellyfin is set to scan that drive letter.

[TheDreadPirate]

A mapped drive is using the same protocol (SMB) as what the OP is describing. The only difference is that their symbolic link method doesn't require you create a new drive letter. From a performance perspective, there is no benefit.

[Andy98]

Most people are using small form factor (SFF) PCs or laptops to run Jellyfin on. 

This post is specifically about windows as the Jellfyin host, but more generally is there any reason on non-windows installs (OMV's Debian, in my case, w/Jellyfin in a container) to prefer locally hosted media over media on a mounted NAS drive?

I'm looking to setup a server and have been a bit reluctant to go for a SFF of USFF/mini form factor out of fear I'll regret not having the media local.

[tmsrxzar]

I'm looking to setup a server and have been a bit reluctant to go for a SFF of USFF/mini form factor out of fear I'll regret not having the media local.

run an externel USB3.2 enclosure instead of a NAS, USB 3.2 is 10Gbps, unless you're going to run a 10Gbps LAN it will be faster

[TheDreadPirate]

is there any reason on non-windows installs (OMV's Debian, in my case, w/Jellyfin in a container) to prefer locally hosted media over media on a mounted NAS drive?

Reduced complexity?  Speed?  Depending on the network protocol used, real time monitoring can't be enabled due to lack of inotify (not supported by SMB).  But if you have Windows clients you need SMB.

The only reason to have separate storage is if you have a lot of servers that need the shared storage that you can centrally manage.  If you only have one server and don't intend to change that, just keep storage local.

If you have the budget, just custom build a PC in a case with enough HDD bays for your needs.